Robert Griffin III on the Moment That Changed His Career
Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III relives his rookie season and the controversial injury that changed the trajectory of his career forever
Hi everybody! Hope you had a great halloween yesterday with lots to treats and few tricks. I hope you enjoyed last week’s edition of The Producer’s Perspective, in which Sarah McCrory discussed our interview with Hall of Fame pitcher Pedro Martínez.
This week, Sarah is writing about the latest episode of our podcast In the Moment with David Greene. This week, David sat down with Robert Griffin III to talk about the 2013 NFC Wild Card game in which RGIII’s rookie season came to an abrupt end.
Enjoy, and don’t miss the entire interview here!
As I re-watched the tape and did my research before our conversation with Robert Griffin III for our podcast “In the Moment” with David Greene, I was in awe of the talent this guy had (still has). For those who don’t remember, RG3 won a Heisman trophy at Baylor, thanks to his ability to run faster than almost any wide receiver in the game and throw the ball 75 yards down field.
In 2012, Griffin won the NFL’s Rookie of the Year award after leading Washington to an NFC East division title. During Washington’s wildcard matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, RG3 was playing just a few weeks after a knee sprain that left his unique running skill limited. It was uncomfortable because, as Griffin told us, “you can't use a certain skill set that you have.”
Late in the game, after re-aggravating the injury just three quarters prior, Griffin reached down to retrieve a low snap and immediately collapsed to the ground. “It was almost as if my leg was being ripped off and I crumbled immediately in that moment – crumbled to the ground,” Griffin told us.
The echoes of Washington’s home crowd chanting “R-G-3” while Griffin lay still on the ground in agony, gave even this die-hard Giants fan chills. Griffin had re-torn his ACL and given his career an irreversible twist.
Sure, it’s the NFL and injuries happen… a lot. But what haunts fans—and RG3 himself—about that game and that injury is, could it have been prevented?
“As a player, you're willing to put your body on the line,” Griffin explained. “You're willing to put everything out there for your guys. That's where the onus falls on the doctors and the coaches to protect guys from themselves.” He’s referring to Mike Shanahan, Washington’s head coach at the time, and the decision to play the QB in that wildcard game against the Seahawks.
But Griffin told us the real debate should be around why he wasn’t taken out after clearly re-injuring his knee earlier in the first quarter. “I think that's the question that a lot of people are asking,” Griffin said. “‘Why throw this young guy out there? He's a rookie, he's 22 years old. It’s very evident that he's not himself.”
“It's very simple,” Griffin continued. “And anyone will tell you – it is the coach's responsibility to protect a player from himself.”
Most NFL fans know RG3’s story as an unfortunate twist of fate. A rookie season for the ages was cut short by a second ACL tear and the next seven years in the league riddled with injuries. Soon, he found himself backing up younger guys like Lamar Jackson.
Going into this interview, I was unsure how RG3 would feel regarding the trajectory of his career. What I found instead was that Griffin is grateful for all that he’s been through.
He didn’t shy away from conversations about his injury, nor was he still struggling with the outcome of his career. He approached every question about the situation humble and poised.
“To end my career in that way, for me, isn't a disappointment,” Griffin said. “Because that has literally catapulted me into what I'm doing now.”
Not only has Griffin become a beloved broadcast personality, he’s still notching a faster 40-yard dash than almost any QB in the league and considers himself a free-agent.
“When that opportunity comes to play, if it’s the right opportunity and the right situation, then I’ll be back playing,” he said.
Funnily enough, with Carson Wentz being sidelined due to injury, the Washington Commanders might just be in need of a QB1.
Listen to our full conversation with Robert Griffin III on In the Moment with David Greene on Apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
Subscribe so you can listen to other elite athletes relive their moments every Tuesday.
And tell us on Twitter @religionofsport: what team do you think RG3 could land on as a QB?
 | A guest post by
|